Online memory trainer

N-back 2: does the square match the one from two steps back?

Also known as: 2-back, 2-back test, N-back with N = 2

Squares on a 3×3 grid light up one at a time. Press “Match” if the same square lit up two steps back. The level stays at N = 2 for the whole game: three blocks, about three minutes. You can play 10 minutes a day without signing up.

Go to the game ↓

≈3 minutesthree blocks
N = 2level stays fixed
No sign-up10 minutes a day
Progress30-day chart

What it trains

Why train with N-back 2

The task loads your working memory: you always keep the last two squares in mind and update them at every step. Each new square pushes out an old one, and you compare with the square from exactly two steps back.

In the regular N-back trainer the level changes after every block. Here it’s locked at N = 2, so you can compare scores from different games directly. Once you sign up, every game is saved and you can see a chart in your account.

N = 1 already feels easyYou want more challenge, without a big jump
You lose track with several tasks at onceA new task pushes out the one before
You lose your place doing mental mathThe running total disappears at the next step
You want honest progress trackingThe same level in every game

Working memory

Keep the last two positions in mind and keep updating them.

Focus

Each step lasts 2.5 seconds, and you can’t afford to miss one.

Inhibition

Don’t press when a square matches the previous one rather than the one two steps back.

Spatial memory

Remember a place on the grid, not a number or a word.

Rules

How to play

Start
Press “Start”. The top of the screen says: press if the square is the same as 2 steps back.
Watch
Every 2.5 seconds one square on the 3×3 grid lights up; the glow lasts one second.
Match
If the square is the same as two steps back, press “Match” or the space bar. If it isn’t, don’t press anything.
Points
Each match you catch earns 20 points. A wrong press costs 5 points; a miss earns nothing.
Blocks
A game has three blocks of 22 steps. The level doesn’t change between blocks: N = 2 all game.

Play online

N-back 2 online

Press “Start”, then hit “Match” or the space bar whenever a square repeats the one from two steps back.

N-back 2

Cells light up one by one. Tap “Match” if the cell is the same as two steps back. The level stays the same: the whole game is played with N = 2.

Free play left today without signing up: 10 min

Method

What the exercise is based on

N-back is a classic cognitive psychology task for studying working memory: stimuli come one after another, and the person marks those that match the stimulus from N steps back. The N = 2 version is often called 2-back. Our site uses the single version with positions on a 3×3 grid.

Once two steps feel easy, move on to N-back 3. In the regular N-back the level adjusts on its own: it rises with accurate answers and drops with mistakes.

N=1Regular N-backThe game starts at N = 1, then the level changes on its own.

N=2This versionAll three blocks at N = 2, 20 points per match.

N=3N-back 3The last three squares in mind, 30 points per match.

Who it’s for

Which ages

Adults

A steady working memory load: the same level every game, so you see your score grow right away.

Kids

Not part of the “Kids” collection: it takes holding a rule for three minutes at a set pace. Older students should start with the regular N-back, where the first block runs at N = 1.

60+

Not part of the “60+” collection: the pace is fixed at one step every 2.5 seconds. If you’d like to try, start with the regular N-back, where the first block is easier.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How is N-back 2 different from the regular N-back?

In the regular trainer a game starts at N = 1 and the level changes after every block. Here all three blocks run at N = 2, so results from different days are easier to compare.

What if the square matches the previous one?

Don’t press anything. Only a square from exactly two steps back counts as a match. A wrong press costs 5 points.

How many points does a match earn?

20 points: 10 times N. A missed match simply earns nothing, and your score never goes below zero.

Can I play with the keyboard?

Yes, the space bar works as the “Match” button. On a phone, tap the button below the grid.

Do I need to sign up?

No, you can play 10 minutes a day right away. A free account lets you keep playing, save your results, track your progress and unlock the daily workout.

Save your results and track your progress

Free sign-up: round history, a chart by skill and a daily workout of 5 exercises. No credit card needed.

All trainers

N-back 2: does the square match the one from two steps back?